VietNamNet Bridge – Many reservoirs in the central coastal province of Binh Dinh have failed to meet the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's standards on flood prevention, raising concerns about the flood season.

Suoi Tre reservoir is in the central coastal province of Binh Dinh.—Photo baobinhdinh

This was revealed by deputy head of the ministry's Water Resources Directorate Nguyen Xuan Dieu after he made a recent inspection visit to the province.

Binh Dinh has the largest number reservoirs in Central and Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) regions, but most of them were built long ago with low technologies, he said.

Out of 161 reservoirs in the province, only 15 are being managed appropriately by the Binh Dinh Irrigation Project Exploitation Co Ltd, Dieu told the local Binh Dinh newspaper.

He said that the rest, which were being managed by local co-operatives, had not been given proper attention by authorities.

Phan Xuan Hai, head of the province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's Dyke Management and Flood Control and Prevention Division, said that out of a total of 161 reservoirs, 39 were seriously degraded and the rest had degraded earthworks and water sluices.

They should have been repaired last year but nothing has been done due to the lack of budget funds, he said.

To ensure the operation of reservoirs and the safety of residents during the rainy season, the Water Resources Directorate has requested Binh Dinh Province to finish repairing and upgrading irrigation works by the end this month.

In addition, temporary measures need to be conducted to reinforce seriously degraded reservoirs.

During his visit to the province, Dieu asked the local steering committee for flood and storm control to assign its officers to check irrigation works 24 hours a day in time of flood.

"The Ministries of Planning and Investment and Finance have submitted a plan to the Prime Minister on the allocation of budget funds to repair and upgrade four reservoirs in Binh Dinh Province - Ba Dan and Hoc My in Hoai An District and Chanh Hung and Hoc Xeo in Phu Cat District," Dieu said.

Source: VNS